League One Playoffs 2026

[BeeversLeftPeg]

Not a bad result Saturday which saw us the first team mathematically confirmed in this season's playoffs. Think all the games are likely to be tight, it's the first time for a while I can remember where no-one has confirmed they final position in the playoffs ahead of final day. The fact the current 4 have just 3 points between them indicates how tight the division has been this year. Normally have at least one team a few points ahead having given the automatics a real challenge like us 2 years ago, but having said that I'm glad we aren't coming into them this season having been pipped to autos and having that disappointment hanging over us.

I suppose the questions are:

1) Will we finish 3rd/4th and nick that home advantage for the 2nd leg?

2) Who else gets in?

3) Who would you rather face?

[Traf]

5 minutes ago, BeeversLeftPeg said:

Not a bad result Saturday which saw us the first team mathematically confirmed in this season's playoffs. Think all the games are likely to be tight, it's the first time for a while I can remember where no-one has confirmed they final position in the playoffs ahead of final day. The fact the current 4 have just 3 points between them indicates how tight the division has been this year. Normally have at least one team a few points ahead having given the automatics a real challenge like us 2 years ago, but having said that I'm glad we aren't coming into them this season having been pipped to autos and having that disappointment hanging over us.

I suppose the questions are:

1) Will we finish 3rd/4th and nick that home advantage for the 2nd leg?

2) Who else gets in?

3) Who would you rather face?

Yes
Bradford, Stockport and Stevenage.
Marginal choice would be Bradford over two legs (which is what I think will happen) and then Stevenage (but it'll be Stockport)

[gonzo]

Really don't fancy Stockport over two legs. Stinks of two tight games and being a calamity away from disaster.

 

[Traf]

2 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Really don't fancy Stockport over two legs. Stinks of two tight games and being a calamity away from disaster.

 

The bottom line is that we'll have to beat Stockport at some point, as I think they'll finish third and they'll win their semi.

[L/H White]

we aren't going up 

re build the defence and look at autos next season

[Marc505]

32 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Really don't fancy Stockport over two legs. Stinks of two tight games and being a calamity away from disaster.

 

Going out on penalties away in Stockport at about 2245 on a midweek night 🤢

[RUREADY2ROLL]

39 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Really don't fancy Stockport over two legs. Stinks of two tight games and being a calamity away from disaster.

 

Doubt it will be Stockport; we can’t finish 6th so likely to be Bradford or Stevenage. Sooner get Bradford out the way in the semi- final

[Traf]

19 minutes ago, Marc505 said:

Going out on penalties away in Stockport at about 2245 on a midweek night 🤢

The stuff of dreams

[masi 51]

Was not expecting promotion last summer or any time between then and now, but i think this is our best chance out of  the three since returning to league one.

This is the weakest play-offs with no stand out team amongst them. Stevenage are awful, Bradford workman like but no quality and Stockport very reliant on Barry with no defence.

Nothing to lose lets go for it

[BeeversLeftPeg]

Here's how the current 4 shape against each other this season:

Bolton W1 D4 L1 Pts 7 GF 8 GA 6

Stockport W1 D1 L4 Pts 4 GF 7 GA 10

Bradford W2 D3 L1 Pts 9 GF 5 GA 4

Stevenage W3 D2 L1 Pts 11 GF 8 GA 8

Stockport only picked points up against us, but we're the only team Stevenage failed to beat.

[Zico]

Stockport play port vale at home in their game in hand mid week so assume they'll start the weekend in 3rd

If so we will definitely avoid them in the semis 

If not we'll find out at the weekend

One thing i think is almost certain is we won't be playing the second leg at there's

If Stockport lost both games and Luton beat us they could even finish 7th

[Rizlar]

Last games of season will be squeaky bum time nobody as an easy game apart from maybe Plymouth. 
Stevenage have Wigan at home Caldwell as told the players that they are playing for contracts as most of the squad is out of contract at the end of the season. 
Stockport at Barnsley Hourihans last game so he will want to leave on a win and Bradford at Exeter and they need a win to have a chance of staying up. 
Luton at home for us is a tough one. 

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, Rizlar said:

Last games of season will be squeaky bum time nobody as an easy game apart from maybe Plymouth. 
Stevenage have Wigan at home Caldwell as told the players that they are playing for contracts as most of the squad is out of contract at the end of the season. 
Stockport at Barnsley Hourihans last game so he will want to leave on a win and Bradford at Exeter and they need a win to have a chance of staying up. 
Luton at home for us is a tough one. 

So the players will be motivated to play for themselves not the team 😀

(A bit like those bonuses for scoring x no of goals, taking Gale or ACD as eg's they surely encourage players to shoot all the time instead of passing).

[tomski]

Not bothered who we get or when. Think it’s our time.

[Krimzon]

In an ideal World we would have gone up and id like to have feet up watching Stockport, Bradford, Plymouth & Luton battle it out . 

My personal preference would be Stevenage over 2 legs and anybody at Wembley .  feels a bit strange hoping for a particular opponent , especially as in the past Ive wanted to meet Tranmere, Oxford, Villa , Watford,  Middlesboro & Stoke in showpiece games. 

[L/H White]

shows how much confidence we have in the players this conversation, worried who we'll play

simply isn't our time, same as arsenal with the prem, fan base a nervous wreck 

[jmjhb]

Can't split it between Bradford and Stevenage who we'll play in the semi-final.

[Johnnyrotten]

3 hours ago, masi 51 said:

Was not expecting promotion last summer or any time between then and now, but i think this is our best chance out of  the three since returning to league one.

This is the weakest play-offs with no stand out team amongst them. Stevenage are awful, Bradford workman like but no quality and Stockport very reliant on Barry with no defence.

Nothing to lose lets go for it

They've got Wootton, Olaofe, Sidibe, Mothersille, Stokes, Diamond and Norwood, all regular scorers and creators.

And I'm not bigging them up, but they definitely don't rely on Barry, he hadn't scored before Saturday.

[masi 51]

6 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

They've got Wootton, Olaofe, Sidibe, Mothersille, Stokes, Diamond and Norwood, all regular scorers and creators.

And I'm not bigging them up, but they definitely don't rely on Barry, he hadn't scored before Saturday.

After Wootton who has 19 the next highest goal scorer is Norwood with 7.......Wootton will be playing centre half alongside a nineteen year old winger.

Olaofe,,,,,You say regular goals and assists he has one each. Diamond last few games on the bench. Mothersille 2 goals, Stokes 4 goals, Sidebe 5 goals....As i say lets not big them up because they get have had the better of us the last few times we have met.......Would we be wary of Wigan though that monkey is no longer on our back

[Marc505]

1 hour ago, L/H White said:

shows how much confidence we have in the players this conversation, worried who we'll play

simply isn't our time, same as arsenal with the prem, fan base a nervous wreck 

Bob Mortimer is better fisherman than you 😀

[Hoppy]

We have drawn almost as many as we have won so I reckon 2 draws then penalty shootout at home , but hopefully a draw away and a win at home much better for the nerves!

[desperado]

The reality is we could face any one of the other 5 teams, by finishing 3/4/5th

But good fun nevertheless having a guessing game.

I’m hoping it’s Bolton, Stockport, Bradford and Stevenage in that order.

Stockport or Bradford at Wembley  

But as @krimzon says all those we lost against above we could/should have beat! 

The thing that makes this lineup appealing, but consequently could also be our undoing, is that those other 3 sides are all over-achieving, and winning a play-off final and  going up to the championship is beyond their expectations. Stockport are the out-lier here, having over achieved last year. 

But still it would be a massive bonus for them.

For us, we lose we’ve under-achieved. Failure is despondency. It’s been our expectation now for at least 3 seasons. 

It could go either way for us, but I actually think that makes us favourites and dangerous opponents. 

Probably why I’m a bit more wary of an in-form Plymouth or Luton. 

But fuck it..we’ll do it this year. These late goals, late drama, never say die attitude, big crowds, exciting players  are all finally going to make a difference. 

[gonzo]

Whatever happens we need those clacker things back for the home semi.

[burnden]

5 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Whatever happens we need those clacker things back for the home semi.

 

[deeane Koontz]

 Since no fucker has much belief in us going up it'll be the year we do it.